Henry lyon



No. 622,627. Patented Apr. 4, I899. H. LYON.

RESISTANCE AND CONTACT APPARATUS FOR ELECTRIC CURBENTS.

(Application filed July 6, 1898.)

(m1 Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet s,

INVEN EOR HENRY LYON i/m WW ms HTI'ORNYE YS W\TNESSES' No. 622,627, Patented Apr. 4, I899. H. LYON.

RESISTANCE AND CONTACT APPARATUS FOR ELECTRIC CURRENTS.

(Application filed Jul 6, 1898.) (No Model.) 2 Shuts-Sheat 2.

WWWVWMWWM/l wNESSES: INVENTOR MAMA/2% HENRY LYON /KGMM- kjfmiimt HISATTORNEYS.

THE Nonms PETERS co. wmo-umu. WASNXNGTON, uvc

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

HENRY LYON, OF GLASGOW, sooTLAND, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF TO THE D. STEWART a COMPANY, LIMITED, OF SAME PLACE.

RESISTANCE AND CONTACT APPARATUS FOR ELECTRIC CURRENTS,

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 622,627, dated April 4, 1899.

Application filed July 6, 1398. Serial No. 685,278. (No model.)

To etZZ whom it may concern;

Be it known that I, HENRY LYON, a subject of the Queen of Great Britain and Ireland, and a resident of Glasgow,Scotland,-have invented certain Improvements in Resistance and Contact Apparatus for Electric Currents, (for which I have applied for British Patent No. 28,859, dated December 7, 1897,) of which the following is a specification.

My saidinvention comprises new and improved arrangements of resistance and contact apparatus for electric currents, which arrangements are advantageously applicable for various purposes; and in order that my said invention and the manner of performing the same may be properly understood I hereunto append a sheet of explanatory drawings to be hereinafter referred to.

Figure 1 is a side elevation, and Fig. 2 a sectional elevation, as at right angles to Fig. 1, showing my improved apparatus; and Fig. 3 is a diagram of my apparatus as used in motor controlling.

As shown in the drawings, my improved apparatus has, in combination with other parts, two jars A A of earthenware or other suitable material, having at the bottom of each jar a conical metal cup B B connected through the bottom with an external metal conductor 0, which is connected to the conductor of the main electric supply. In each jar A A there is a metal cone 0 C suspended by a cord D D which passes more or less around and is fastened to the grooved rim of a pulley E E having a tubular center F F carried on an overhead shaft F,which does not rotate. The tubular center F F of each pulley has fixed on it a piece G, like a common pipe-coupling, which has screwed into it a handle G G the end of which can be made to bear on the shaft, so as to fix the pulley E E in any desired position thereon, while on unscrewing the handle the pulley becomes free to move. The cones O C are connected by flexible coils of wire H H? to the terminals J J connected to separate metal conductors. TVater or other suitable feebly-conducting liquid, such as a solution of a salt of the same metal as that of which the cups B 3 and cones C C are made, is put in each jarA A ,so

that its upper surface is at a suitable height above the cups B 13*. When the cones O C are entirely above the liquid, both circuits are broken.

the liquid, (without sparking, )and the resistance of the liquid gradually diminishes as the cone descends until it makes complete contact with the cup B B If the cone 0 or C is stopped short of the cup B or E the elec- 6o trio current for any purpose-as, for example, 6 5

for actuating a motor. In starting a motor the small cone 0 is first lowered into the liquid, and the circuit for the shunt-current for exciting the field-magnets is completed when the cone reaches the cup B this is being effected, the larger cone 0 is also slowly lowered and on touching the liquid makes contact, but with some resistance, which is slowly diminished as the cone approaches the cup B. motor is eifected gradually and without abruptness and with either a partial or full load.

If from any cause it is desired to increase the speed of the motor above the normal, this is effected by raising the small cone 0 which 80 introduces resistance through the shunt-coils,

and the motor runs faster without any loss.

The motor again may be required to run for short intervals at a slow speed. This is done bysimply raising the larger cone 0 to suit the 8 5 required speed.

A switch or equivalent may be introduced into the electric circuit at any convenient po sition, so that the direction of the currents can be reversed when both cones are out of 90 the liquid and the circuit broken. This per mits of a motor being driven in either 'direc tion, as required.

I claim as my invention In resistance and contact apparatus for 9 5 main and shunt electric currents or the like, the combination of two liquid-containing jars in the bottom of each of which is a metal cup On either the cone 0 or C be A ing lowered its point first makes contact with 5 5 While Thus the starting of the having electrical connections, with a metal name to this specification in the presence of cone, suspension-cords and pulleys for the two subscribing witnesses.

cones, flexible coils of Wire connecting the 1 @v 3 r 7' \T cones to separate conductors, and handles to L1 0* 5 operate said pulleys, substantially as and for lVitnesses: V

the purposes herein set forth. EDMUND HUNT,

In testimony whereof I have signed my! GEORGE PAXT'ITERSON. 

